AUGS’ Commitment to Meeting Attendees – Meeting Code of Conduct
AUGS is committed to providing a safe, professional and productive meeting environment that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of scientific ideas, promotes equal opportunities and treatment of all participants, supports diversity, and is free of harassment and discrimination.
Speakers are expected to demonstrate scientific integrity and professional ethics. AUGS recognizes that professional and well-intentioned scientists and clinicians can and do disagree; PFD Week is intended to serve as a forum to consider and debate science-relevant viewpoints in an orderly, respectful, and fair manner. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration and alert staff or security of any dangerous situations or anyone in distress. This statement applies to all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, contractors, volunteers, and guests at the Annual Meeting and related events.
AUGS will not tolerate any form of harassment, sexual or otherwise. Harassment includes speech or behavior that is not welcome or is personally offensive, whether it is based on ethnicity, gender, religion, age, body size, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other reason not related to scientific merit. It includes stalking, unnecessary touching, and unwelcome attention. Behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so use discretion to be sure that respect is communicated. Harassment intended in a joking manner still constitutes unacceptable behavior. Retaliation for reporting harassment is also a violation of the Code of Conduct, as is reporting an incident in bad faith. Harassment should be reported immediately to an AUGS staff member.
COVID policy
All in-person meeting attendees, exhibitors, and staff must attest (via the registration form) to being fully vaccinated or to receiving a negative COVID test within 72 hours of participation in an event. Attendees may be exposing themselves to an increased risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, despite the safety precautions taken by AUGS and the meeting venue. By attending the meeting, individuals are accepting this risk and recognizing that AUGS maintains no liability for any injury, disease or death that may result from contracting COVID-19.
AUGS Commitment to Safety
AUGS is committed to hosting robust in-person meetings. We consider the safety of all attendees, our industry partners and AUGS staff as a top priority. AUGS is working to enact procedures in alignment with this commitment.
We ask that our attendees, industry partners and staff also act in the best interest of our AUGS community by following our onsite safety procedures, as detailed below. We ask you do not attend the event if you are ill or have been recently exposed or experience symptoms of COVID-19.
AUGS will continue to monitor updates and guidance recommendations from the CDC and will communicate any updates as the situation evolves.
COVID-19 Safety Procedures
- All in-person meeting attendees, exhibitors, and staff must attest (via the registration form) to being fully vaccinated or to receiving a negative COVID test within 72 hours of participation in an event.
- Masks, social distancing and other onsite safety measures will be implemented (if necessary) to ensure the safety of our attendees.
- AUGS will work with the hotels and meeting spaces to ensure appropriate sanitation standards are followed.